Get to know the variety of things Soldiers are doing on and off the job. From a helicopter pilot to a Special Forces dentist, these Officers and Enlisted Soldiers on Active Duty and in the Army Reserve show how satisfying life in the Army can be.
Enlisted Soldiers
Piano
"I'm at my 22 year point in my career and this is the highest point of musicianship that I've experienced."
Clarinet
"This is a chance for me to work with some really great musicians and just do a lot of playing."
French Horn
"The Army band is a great way to provide for yourself, provide for your family, and still do what you love to do. I just think it's the best-kept secret."
Bassoon
"I was worried that the Army Band would be just a bunch of marches. But it's not at all. We play such variety, so it's challenging musically."
"Anybody can do what I did, all you need is a bit of dedication and some motivation." Learn more about Magdalena's journey from civilian to counter-intelligence Special Agent.
Military Police-Dog Handler
"I love what I do. I love working with dogs. I've learned things in the Army that will be with me for the rest of my life." Click to learn more about why Danny loves his job.
Infantryman-Sniper
"I shoot a target around four or five hundred meters - about the size of a playing card." Click to see if Andrew ever misses a target.
Cavalry Scout
"For a 21-year old guy I have a pretty darn important job." Click to learn more why Aaron's job is so important.
Health Care Specialist
"The cool part of my job is the reward I get from taking care of Soldiers." Click to learn why Tracey's job is so rewarding.
"I had other options, but none were as beneficial as what the Army could offer. " Click to learn how beneficial the Army was to Matthew.
Officers
"So many of the people that I've looked up to as leaders had spent some time in their life serving their country in the Army. I wanted to be like that." Learn how serving his country has made Nick Army Strong.
Family Practice Physician, Medical Corps Officer
"One of the biggest benefits it provides you is that it pays for your medical school, books, fees and tuition, as well as coverage for your personal health insurance." Learn how serving his country has made Jeffrey Army Strong.
Infantry Officer
"An Infantry Officer is an awesome job. I get to lead and train Soldiers on a daily basis." Learn how serving his country has made Richard Army Strong.
Chaplain (Catholic)
Before joining the Army, Father Panzer served as a Chaplain to both high school and college students, taught high school religion, and was a parish priest. See what Father Panzer has to say about his Army Chaplain training and why he calls the Army Chaplain Corps a "Ministry of Presence."
Chaplain Candidate
"As a future chaplain, I hope to continue to build up Soldiers and their Family members."
Capt. Drummond never thought he would jump out of a perfectly good airplane or be in the JAG Corps.
Capt. Harvin's most rewarding experience in the JAG Corps was on Sept. 11th. She saw first hand how critical her job was in providing a timely, accurate and quick response to events.
Every case that Capt. Owens has won as a prosecutor has been a very fulfilling experience. She felt that justice was served each time.
Maj. Riddick said, "the best part of being an officer in the JAG Corps is … using (my) military skills,and attorney skills. I can put them together and help Soldiers."
General Dentist - Fort Mead, MD
Health Professions Scholarship Program participant
Enlisted Soldiers
Staff Sergeant Michael Devaughn
Watch Michael on the fast track to success in the U.S. Army Reserve getting an education & real job training. "In the Army Reserve, they definitely built me into a leader.”
"I tell anyone that has any type of goals and dreams to keep on going for it, because now I have everything I want." See how the Army Reserve helped make her dreams a reality.
"Some of the training that I get in the Army Reserve I do not get in the civilian world," says Summer, who earned important certifications for her civilian job in the Army.
"The Army Reserve taught me how to be a focused individual, and it helps when I need to get my schoolwork done," says Jeremiah, studying to earn a degree in Criminal Justice.
"When I look at my classmates, I know that I'm just a little different - of course in a good way," says Autumn, a full-time student and nationally ranked boxer.
"Because of the Army Reserve, they sent me to school, they give me credibility and on-the-job experience," says Shawn, who loves the adventure of serving.
Igor "can do two things with [his] life at the same time, whereas most people just do one." Discover more about his training in the Army Reserve & how it helps him in civilian life.
The Army Reserve is "very flexible in honoring your commitment with them as well as your commitment in your civilian sector," says Aveon. Find out more.
Senior Analyst / Intelligence Analyst
"I thought about coming back into the military as soon as I got out," says SPC Michael Olivero. The Army Reserve was the right choice for him and his family.
Radar Repairer
The Army Reserve really did give me a skill that I am going to use for the rest of my life.It's challenging. It's cutting edge. And It's a great time.
Officers
"I stay in the Army Reserve today because it allows me an opportunity to work... on the skill that I think is most valuable in my job, which is to be a leader," says Padron.
First Lieutenant Heather Cupitt
Flight Instructor/Pilot
"Growing up I was not adventurous, I was in a small town I went to the movies on the weekend and was part of a basketball team. And now I am so much more adventurous just after four or five years coming out of high school and I'm flying a multi-million dollar helicopter and I can't say that about a lot of 23 year olds."
Fiber Optics Product Specialist/Logistics
"Aside from paying for tuition at a private school I decided to come into ROTC because I thought that it would take this shy little girl from Texas and build her Leadership skills and help her be able to stand in front of people and to lead."
Non-Profit Organizer/Public Affiars Officer
"I learned about Leadership in ROTC. I've always been kind of the type of person to sort of follow the crowd and it was time, it was kind of, one of those times in my life where I was forced to actually take command and actually go in front of all my peers and say 'hey, this is what we need to do, and this is how we're going to get something done' and from that I just was a lot more confident of myself."
First Lieutenant Terrance Wilson
Project Manager/Personnel Systems Management Officer
"I enjoy the camaraderie that I get out of the Army Reserve because it's a sense of belonging. You're part of a team. You're part of a chain. You're part of a family."
Chief of Staff for the office of Risk Management/Civil Affairs Officer
"Something I think goes back to experiences I had in Army ROTC and my experiences in the Army Reserve. Which is that when everybody works together there's nothing you can't do."
First Lieutenants Clint & Maureen Bickett
Platoon Leader and Nurse, Medical Services Corps
In Army ROTC, Clint and Maureen met within days of their initial training and thrived during their individual military careers. They eventually married to form a beautiful family.
Chaplain Gauthier has been a Chaplain for 14 years, lending his support to Soldiers all over the world. Learn more about Chaplain Gauthier & what he calls the Army's "Muddy Boots" chaplaincy.
Pathologist - Fort Sam Houston, Texas (Reserve)
LT. COL. Hunnicutt considers it a privilege and honor to be serving his country as a pathologist and transfusion consultant at Brooke Army Medical Center. In his off-hours, LT. COL. Hunnicutt enjoys restoring antique cars, and golfing with his medical colleagues.
Pharmacist (Reserve) - Fresno, CA
Currently the Chief of Pharmacy at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fresno, California, Captain Handza has been with the VA for almost ten years. "I think the Army Reserve offers many opportunities that you wouldn't have otherwise."
Dietitian (Reserve) - Mesa, AZ
As a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve, Tara Johnson spends most of her time educating soldiers about nutrition and helping them keep their weight in control so that they can stay in the Army. She practices at the U.S. Army Hospital in Mesa, Arizona.
General Dentist (Reserve) - Pittsburgh, PA
Major Pawlowicz finds that being a dentist in the Army Reserve leaves her time to be with her husband and daughter, and additionally provides personal and professional benefits she wishes she had been aware of earlier in her career. Her sincerity is evident when she talks about the pride she feels in caring for our Soldiers.
Cadets
With the help of a 4-year ROTC scholarship, RJ is able to pay for college while gaining experience and academic discipline, as well as making lifelong friends.
Find out how Jeff jumped from high school athletics to college and Army ROTC. And get a glimpse inside an ROTC tradition: the annual military ball.
Nursing major, University of Texas at El Paso
By enrolling in ROTC after her sophomore year, Marissa learned leadership and communication skills that will help her thrive in her career in nursing.
Political Science major, Biology minor, University of San Diego
The first in his family to attend college thanks to an ROTC scholarship, John Paul is able to pursue his degree while developing an expanded set of unique leadership, discipline and career skills.
